In this episode of How I Built This, Guy Raz interviews Don Vultaggio, the co-founder of Arizona Iced Tea, about his journey from a beer distributor to a beverage industry giant. Vultaggio recounts the early days of his career, partnering with John Farolito, and the challenges they faced in the beer distribution business, including robberies and threats. He shares the pivotal moment when he decided to enter the iced tea market after noticing Snapple's success, leading to the creation of Arizona Iced Tea with its distinctive packaging and affordable pricing. Vultaggio also discusses the controversies surrounding their malt liquor brands, Midnight Dragon and Crazy Horse, and the eventual legal battle with his partner over the company's valuation, which ended with Vultaggio buying out Farolito. Despite the challenges, Vultaggio emphasizes the importance of providing consumers with a fair deal and maintaining the quality of the beverage, which has contributed to Arizona Iced Tea's enduring success and his commitment to keeping the company family-owned for generations to come.
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